Clermont will have to do without the services of five players for the remainder of the regular season following the bruising loss to Leinster in the Heineken Cup semi-finals on Sunday.

Wingers Julien Malzieu and Jean-Marcellin Buttin, full-back Lee Byrne, lock Nathan Hines and flanker Julien Bonnaire all picked up knocks against the Irish side and will need to take time out to recover, the club said.

Clermont are already sure of qualifying for the Top 14 semi-finals along with Toulouse and have two more games to play against Castres on May 5 and Brive on May 12 before the playoff stages begin.